KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The last time Astros righthander Alex White pitched in a game — an exhibition against the Chicago Cubs on March 29, 2013 — he thought he would get through the elbow pain.

A lot of pitchers are that way. They might feel some discomfort during a game, but they know their bodies best. For White, the pain would typically subside by the next outing.

That game against the Cubs at Minute Maid Park was different.

“Before I even threw that game against Chicago, I knew something wasn’t right,” White said. “I wanted to pitch. My elbow has always been (able to) get through the start, and then the next time it’ll feel better. It just wasn’t. It wasn’t even close when I threw that game. It’s tough, and this last year was extremely difficult.”

While many Astros arrived here this week ahead of Saturday’s report date for pitchers and catchers, White has been around for months rehabbing. He underwent Tommy John surgery last April after he had made the Astros’ rotation out of spring training.

White wants his job back, to be sure, but this spring he has to focus on his health first. He still hasn’t thrown a pitch for the Astros in a regular-season game.

A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Indians who’s now 25 years old, White jokes about how well he has gotten to know the team’s spring training site.

“I’m the mayor of this town,” he said.

White did some online coursework. He even learned to bowl lefthanded. That’s how much players coming back from major surgeries in somewhat isolated environments can want for entertainment.

Targeting April return

White gave a lot of credit to the team’s minor league rehab coordinator, Daniel Roberts.

“It was tough,” White said. “But mentally, it was where I need to be to focus. … I didn’t have any outside distractions, no games I had to worry about.

“You come in, and you look forward to small things. You have small goals in mind. One of my big ones was throwing the little weighted ball off the trampoline. That was one thing I couldn’t wait to get to.”

White said opening day hasn’t been ruled out for his return, but he spoke of April as his general target to be back.

White underwent the procedure April 11, meaning he just passed the 10-month mark. This type of surgery generally requires about 12 months for recovery.

For the first time since that exhibition game, White threw to live hitters Monday. He tossed 22 pitches. He’s scheduled to throw to hitters for the second time on Friday.

He has been throwing off flat ground for so long that getting used to the mound again is more of a task than one might think.

White threw only fastballs and changeups in the batting practice session, but he plans to progress to breaking balls next week. He already has thrown all his pitches from flat ground, and the secondary stuff looks good.

The one thing White is waiting on is the heat. He hasn’t been clocked yet with a radar gun, but he can tell the fastball hasn’t returned.

“I’m waiting on the velocity, to be honest,” White said. “They basically assured me it just kind of comes. We’re still at 10 months, and we’re looking at April.

“The question I always ask and (Roberts) always reassures me, the elbow’s healthy structure-wise. That’s the next key — getting to where I feel comfortable letting it go.”

Relief role a culprit

White said that since 2011, he hasn’t felt truly healthy.

In 2012, the Colorado Rockies asked him to go to the bullpen, and a little part of him thinks that change might have been one of many factors that contributed to his injury. He has rarely relieved during his career, including college at the University of North Carolina.

“I think some kind of the newness of that situation didn’t help,” White said.

The Astros still might consider using White as a reliever temporarily, because it could mean a lighter workload as he builds his arm strength. White will do whatever he is asked, but he’s also eager to finally show what he can do in the rotation when he’s feeling good.

First things first

But he’s not looking too far down the road.

“I think in the past, (winning a job) was the mentality,” White said. “Right now for me, I think if I’m healthy, I think that kind of takes care of itself. (General manager Jeff Luhnow) has been great with the support and understanding where I am, and I think we’re on the same page — we want to get healthy.

“Once I get healthy, we both think, and I personally think, if I’m 100 percent, winning a job and the starting rotation, that all kind of takes care of itself.”

<center><strong>Rangers<br>
2013: </strong>91-72, second place in AL West<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Surprise, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>1B Prince Fielder, LF Shin-Soo Choo, C. J.P. Arencibia, OF Michael Choice<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>Closer Joe Nathan, 2B Ian Kinsler, RF Nelson Cruz, C A.J. Pierzynski; RHP Matt Garza; 1B/DH Lance Berkman, CF Craig Gentry, OF David Murphy, INF Jeff Baker<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>Texas started the offseason with a rare trade of All-Stars, sending Kinsler to Detroit for Fielder. Choo will lead off after a free-agent deal for seven years, the same amount of time left on Fielder’s contract. Yu Darvish has recovered from nerve inflammation in his lower back that bothered him at the end of the season. Last year’s opening day starter, Matt Harrison, should return after two back operations but Derek Holland could miss half the season with a knee injury after being tripped by his dog on stairs at his home. less

<center><strong>Angels<br>
2013: </strong>78-84, third place in AL West<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Tempe, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>3B David Freese, LHP Tyler Skaggs, LHP Hector Santiago, DH Raul Ibanez, RHP Joe Smith, INF John McDonald, 1B Carlos Pena, LHP Mark Mulder<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>OF Peter Bourjos, DH Mark Trumbo, LHP Jason Vargas, RHP Jerome Williams, RHP Tommy Hanson<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>After their worst season in a decade, the big-budget Angels are exercising financial restraint and hoping for bounce-back seasons from their biggest bats to return to the playoffs. The Angels lost young talents Trumbo and Bourjos in the deals, but they’re counting on Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton to earn their enormous paychecks. After poor starts in the past few seasons put the Angels in an inescapable hole, a good April will be a key to job security for Scioscia, the longest-tenured manager in baseball. less

<center><strong>Mariners <br>
2013: </strong>71-91, fourth place in AL West<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Peoria, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>2B Robinson Cano, OF Corey Hart, OF Logan Morrison, C John Buck, IF-OF Willie Bloomquist, RHP Scott Baker<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>Manager Eric Wedge, OF Raul Ibanez, DH Kendrys Morales, SS Brendan Ryan<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>Seattle grabbed the headlines in the offseason with its $240 million, 10-year commitment to Robinson Cano and then with the acquisitions of Corey Hart and Logan Morrison. If all three can perform up to their capabilities, Seattle may finally have a legitimate offense to complement a strong top to its rotation with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. Seattle needs to settle the logjam in its outfield and settle on a center fielder, and figure out whether Brad Miller or Nick Franklin is the better option at shortstop. less

<center><strong>Indians<br>
2013: </strong>92-70, second place in AL Central, lost wild-card game to Rays<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Goodyear, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP John Axford, OF David Murphy, LHP Josh Outman, RHP Shaun Marcum, OF Jeff Francoeur, OF Nyjer Morgan, RHP David Aardsma, RHP Kyle Davies<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>RHP Chris Perez, RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP Joe Smith, LHP Scott Kazmir, OF Drew Stubbs, RHP Matt Albers, LHP Rich Hill, OF Jason Kubel, C Lou Marson<br></center>
<strong>Goin’ campin’: </strong>Francona’s arrival propelled the Indians into the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Cleveland must remodel its bullpen from front to back. The emergence of catcher Yan Gomes could move Carlos Santana to third. The Indians are counting on young pitchers Danny Salazar, Zach McAllister and Corey Kluber to round out their rotation. Asdrubal Cabrera was dangled as trade bait during the offseason and must shake off an inconsistent 2013. less

<center><strong>Indians<br>
2013: </strong>92-70, second place in AL Central, lost wild-card game to Rays<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Goodyear, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP John ... more

<center><strong>Tigers<br>
2013: </strong>93-69, first place in AL Central, lost to Boston in ALCS<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Lakeland, Fla.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>Managar Brad Ausmus, RHP Joba Chamberlain, OF Rajai Davis, 2B Ian Kinsler, LHP Ian Krol, INF Steve Lombardozzi, RHP Joe Nathan<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>Manager Jim Leyland, RHP Joaquin Benoit, 1B Prince Fielder, RHP Doug Fister, 2B Omar Infante, C Brayan Pena, SS Jhonny Peralta, RHP Jose Veras<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The Tigers have never made the postseason four straight years, but they look like favorites to do just that after winning a third consecutive AL Central title in 2013. Ausmus takes over a star-studded roster that still includes the winners of the last three AL MVP Awards (Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander) and two of the last three Cy Young Awards (Max Scherzer, Verlander). Detroit might not hit as many homers, but the Tigers should be improved defensively. less

<center><strong>White Sox<br>
2013: </strong>63-99, fifth place in AL Central<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Glendale, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>1B Jose Abreu, OF Adam Eaton, LHP Scott Downs, LHP Eric Surkamp, RHP Ronald Belisario<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>RHP Addison Reed, INF Brent Morel<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The White Sox believe they can turn things around rather quickly after last season’s collapse. One reason for that — their pitching. Tanaka and Chris Sale might have been a dominant tandem at the top of the rotation, but the White Sox believe they have enough arms with Jose Quintana, John Danks and Erik Johnson in the mix. The big question is, can they generate enough offense? Abreu could boost an offense that scored the fewest runs in the AL and hit only 148 homers. They will also have a full year with OF Avisail García after acquiring him from Detroit in a midseason deal. And they’re committed to Ventura as their manager. less

<center><strong>Red Sox<br>
2013: </strong>97-65, 1st place AL East, World Series champions<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Fort Myers, Fla.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>C A.J. Pierzynski, OF Grady Sizemore, RHP Edward Mujica, IF Jonathan Herrera<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>CF Jacoby Ellsbury, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Stephen Drew, LHP Franklin Morales, RHP Andrew Bailey, RHP Joel Hanrahan<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The Red Sox won the World Series title for the third time in 10 years and one year after going 69-93. In the offseason they continued their strategy of signing mid-level free agents to short-term contracts. Led by Jon Lester and talented young prospects, the pitching staff has great depth. The bullpen is solid with closer Koji Uehara and setup men Junichi Tazawa and Craig Breslow all returning. Look for a breakout year for two youngsters — SS/3B Xander Bogaerts and CF Jackie Bradley Jr. less

<center><strong>Phillies<br>
2013:</strong> 73-89, fourth place in NL East<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Clearwater, Fla.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>OF Marlon Byrd, RHP Miguel Gonzalez, RHP Roberto Hernandez, RHP Brad Lincoln, C Wil Nieves, RHP Chad Gaudin, OF Bobby Abreu<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>RHP Roy Halladay, C Erik Kratz, LHP John Lannan<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The Phillies are no longer the class of the division after winning five straight NL East titles from 2007-11. For the first time in nine years, Charlie Manuel won’t be around for spring training. Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman, enters his first full season as manager. Manuel has a front-office job with the Phils but will join them after they leave Florida. Cole Hamels says he won’t be ready by opening day because of left biceps tendinitis. The team has more question marks than answers, but there’s potential for success if several players live up to their contracts. less

<center><strong>Braves<br>
2013: </strong>96-66, first place in AL East, lost to Dodgers in division series<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Kissimmee, Fla. <br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP Gavin Floyd, C Ryan Doumit, 1B Mat Gamel, 2B Tyler Greene<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>RHP Tim Hudson, C Brian McCann, LHP Paul Maholm, LHP Eric O’Flaherty, SS Paul Janish, 2B Elliot Johnson, RHP Cristhian Martinez, LHP Sean Gilmartin<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton, a pair of high-priced players who hit below .200 and lost their starting jobs in 2013, will be in the spotlight this spring. Tommy La Stella is a young player to watch in the second base competition. RHP Brandon Beachy could boost the rotation by showing he has fully recovered from elbow ligament-replacement surgery and a follow-up procedure to clean up the elbow. LHP Alex Wood and RHP Freddy Garcia will lead the competition for the final spot in the rotation. less

<center><strong>Nationals<br>
2013: </strong>86-76, second place in NL East<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Viera, Fla.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP Doug Fister, OF Nate McLouth, LHP Jerry Blevins, INF Jamey Carroll, RHP Luis Ayala, C Chris Snyder, C Koyie Hill, RHP Manny Delcarmen<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>Manager Davey Johnson, RHP Dan Haren, INF Chad Tracy, LHP Fernando Abad<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>It will be worth watching what sort of effect the change from the lame-duck Johnson to the fiery Williams has on the Nationals, who went from the best record in the majors in 2012 to missing the playoffs in 2013. Two big keys for the Nationals will be the health of young stars Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, a pair of No. 1 draft picks who are coming off offseason surgery. Also to keep an eye on: How much time will 3B Ryan Zimmerman get at first base, where the team plans to give him some at-bats this season? less

<center><strong>Brewers<br>
2013: </strong>74-88, fourth place in NL Central
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Maryvale, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP Matt Garza, 1B Lyle Overbay, 3B-1B Mark Reynolds, LHP Zach Duke, LHP Will Smith<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>1B-OF Corey Hart, OF Norichika Aoki, RHP Chris Narveson, INF Yuniesky Betancourt, RHP Burke Badenhop, 1B Mat Gamel<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The Brewers spiced up an otherwise quiet offseason with the surprise signing of Garza to a $50 million, four-year contract with an option for a fifth year. Milwaukee will have a familiar face in a new position when slugger Ryan Braun returns from his 65-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and gets acquainted to right field after years in left. He says he’s also over the thumb injury that set him back last season. Milwaukee also hopes to get clarity in camp with its muddled situation at 1B. less

<center><strong>Cardinals<br>
2013: </strong>97-65, first place in NL Central, lost World Series to Boston<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Jupiter, Fla.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>SS Jhonny Peralta, CF Peter Bourjos, INF Mark Ellis, OF Randall Grichuk, OF Oscar Taveras, RHP Jorge Rondon, assistant batting coach David Bell<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>OF Carlos Beltran, 3B David Freese, RHP Edward Mujica, RHP Chris Carpenter, RHP Jake Westbrook, OF Adron Chambers, OF Brock Peterson, RHP Fernando Salas, RHP John Axford, INF Ryan Jackson<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>Coming off their second World Series appearance in three years, the Cards didn’t require a significant makeover. There’s a surplus of starting rotation candidates led by 19-game winner Adam Wainwright, second in Cy Young Award balloting. Michael Wacha is coming off an electric finish to his debut season, fellow rookie Shelby Miller won 15 games before getting shut down during the postseason. less

<center><strong>Cardinals<br>
2013: </strong>97-65, first place in NL Central, lost World Series to Boston<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Jupiter, Fla.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>SS Jhonny ... more

Photo: Jeff Curry / Associated Press

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<center><strong>Cubs<br>
2013: </strong>66-96, fifth place in NL Central<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Mesa, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP Jose Veras, LHP Wesley Wright, C George Kottaras, OF Justin Ruggiano<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>Manager Dale Sveum, OF Brian Bogusevic, RHP Marcos Mateo<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The offseason was defined more by what the Cubs didn’t do than what they did. They fired Sveum and struck out trying to land manager Joe Girardi. He decided to stick with the Yankees. In the meantime, Chicago is waiting for top prospects such as Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Javier Baez and Albert Almora to develop in the minors. For now, the Cubs are selling hope. What choice do they have? They haven’t had a winning season since 2009, when they won 83 games under Lou Piniella. Since then, they’re 273-375 with at least 91 losses each of the past three years. less

<center><strong>Pirates<br>
2013: </strong>94-68, second place in NL Central, wild card, lost to Cardinals in division series<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Bradenton, Fla.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP Edinson Volquez, C Chris Stewart, OF Jaff Decker, LHP Daniel Schlereth, 1B Travis Ishikawa, OF Chris Dickerson<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>RHP A.J. Burnett, RF Marlon Byrd, 1B Justin Morneau, 1B-OF Garrett Jones, C Michael McKenry, OF Felix Pie, RHP Kyle Farnsworth<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’:</strong> The franchise’s first playoff berth in 21 years did little to change Pittsburgh’s economical approach to free agency. The only major addition came in the form of Volquez, and the Pirates will try to turn him into the 2014 version of Francisco Liriano. Polanco and former first-round pick Jameson Taillon — who could join the rotation sometime in 2014 — will start camp with the big league club. less

<center><strong>Reds<br>
2013: </strong>90-72, third place in NL Central, lost wild-card game to Pirates<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Goodyear, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>2B-OF Skip Schumaker, C Brayan Pena<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>Manager Dusty Baker, CF Shin-Soo Choo, RHP Bronson Arroyo, C Ryan Hanigan<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The Reds made very few additions to their roster, which had a few notable losses. LHP Tony Cingrani will move into Arroyo’s spot. Touted speedster Billy Hamilton takes over Choo’s spot at the top of the order. The Reds are counting on LF Ryan Ludwick — their cleanup hitter — to be fully recovered from a shoulder injury that wiped out more than half of his season last year. The Reds have made the playoffs in three of the last four years, but failed to get past the opening round each time. They elevated Bryan Price, their pitching coach, in hopes that a change at the top trickles down in the postseason. less

<center><strong>Reds<br>
2013: </strong>90-72, third place in NL Central, lost wild-card game to Pirates<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Goodyear, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>2B-OF Skip ... more

<center><strong>Padres<br>
2013: </strong>76-86, tied for third place in NL West<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Peoria, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP Josh Johnson, RHP Joaquin Benoit, LHP Alex Torres, OF Seth Smith, SS Ryan Jackson, LHP Patrick Schuster<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>RHP Luke Gregerson, INF Logan Forsythe, INF-OF Jesus Guzman, OF Mark Kotsay<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>With the lineup and rotation pretty much set, the main competition during spring training will be for a few spots in the bullpen. The Padres are keeping their fingers crossed that they can come out of spring training healthy and get off to a fast start rather than the slow starts that doomed them the last few years. C Yasmani Grandal continues to rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. San Diego already had a setback when it was announced that LHP Cory Luebke needs a second reconstructive elbow surgery and will miss the 2014 season. less

<center><strong>Giants<br>
2013:</strong> 76-86, tied for third place in NL West<br>
<strong>Training Town: </strong>Scottsdale, Ariz.<br>
<strong>He’s Here: </strong>RHP Tim Hudson, OF Michael Morse, RHP Kameron Loe, RHP David Huff, LHP Dontrelle Willis<br>
<strong>He’s Outta Here: </strong>LHP Barry Zito, OF Andres Torres, RHP Chad Gaudin, LHP Jose Mijares, OF Brett Pill, RHP Guillermo Moscoso, RHP Sandy Rosario<br></center>
<strong>Going campin’: </strong>The Giants narrowly avoided becoming the second team to go from a World Series title to last place, beating out Colorado by two games. Madison Bumgarner was the only consistent starter as Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong all struggled. Hudson, coming off a broken right ankle that cut his 2013 season short with Atlanta, will help fortify the rotation. Morse provides a needed power bat in left field with 13 home runs in 312 at-bats last season. A big season from slimmed-down Pablo Sandoval could also boost the offense. less